scarlet women
Women of ill repute
Scarlet women is the plural of scarlet woman—a promiscuous woman or prostitute.
The phrase comes from the Book of Revelation's "woman clothed in scarlet," interpreted as a symbol of sin and sexual immorality.
The term is old-fashioned and literary, now used mostly in historical contexts or for ironic effect: The preacher warned against the scarlet women of the city.
- prostitutesThose who sell sex
- lady of the nightSells sexual services
- temptressWoman who entices
- courtesansCompanions to powerful men
- mistressesFemale lovers outside marriage
hookers · harlots · vamps · adulteress · femme fatale · whores · painted lady · Carmen · fallen angel · sinner · immorality · streetwalkers · red light district · lasciviousness · call girls · sirens · hustlers · Whore of Babylon
- Fictional CourtesansFantine, Camille, Nancy, courtesans, painted ladies
scarlet womenvirgins
Sexually uninitiated people
vestal virgins · maidens · celibates · prudes · nuns
scarlet womenladies
Women, respectfully addressed
gentlewomen · pillars of the community · matrons · society ladies · matriarchs